Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Didn't see one yet so I think so I figured I'd create a thread to discuss the 2016 Silicon Valley Regional. Team 5940 is thrilled to attend and meet new people!

Good luck everyone!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Help with scouting and update robot pictures on the TBA page.
https://www.thebluealliance.com/event/2016casj

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Central Valley Robotics will be hosting the Webcast / Live Stream for the 2016 Silicon Valley Regional. Here are the links:

• Day 1 (Main) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBEgC-lZ36Q
• Day 1 (Field Only) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDtyONxuFZY
• Day 2 (Main) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMbcgqc7QnY
• Day 2 (Field Only) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnBQ3E167ig
• Day 3 (Main) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCdWi6Uhomo
• Day 3 (Field Only) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGe8wdbfl_E

Or see them all here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Central...view=2&sort=dd

Looking forward to a great event!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I love the field view links!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

115 will be really excited to attend! The top robots look incredibly strong this year...
It's kind of a shame we attend because the livestream is always so good. :P

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Really looking forward to watching this regional!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

254 just performed a 2 ball auto in a practice match.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Has 971 hit a 2 ball yet? I saw that 1678 missed close attempts.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Not that I have seen.

In one match they just missed the first shot and made the second one.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Does there happen to be video of this floating around somewhere? Or, if YouTube stored today's footage, can someone point me to roughly when in that archive this would be?

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

It was in practice match 5. You should be able to rewind the stream when it ends tonight.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZkVXbesP9A

Here this was a later match. (And I missed the beginning.)

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

For anyone interested by match 61

254-1678-5700 vs. 2854-668-4159

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDh0...ature=youtu.be

IMO easily one of the best matches of the day. Fantastic day all around, so many teams playing at a high level.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

The same links above should take you to the recorded footage after processing. Unfortunately, YouTube take a while to process the high bitrate stream, so it might be up to 48 hours after the conclusion of the stream before it appears online. We can't do anything to speed that up.

While the videos are processing, YouTube tends to just show a "live event over" message, which is a bit misleading.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Looks like there is a decent chance that three teams will go undefeated in the qualification matches (254, 971, 1678). The playoffs for this event are going to be fun to watch.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

1678 and 254 will pair up just like in CV..its what they do

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Hi Boltman,

I definitely agree. I've only watched a couple events from California (watched you guys at the Central Valley Regional!) but I've only ever seen those two teams together! Though I've never seen these two lose together, unless I missed that event. I guess that would be like getting mad about Montana connecting with Rice!

If I were one of them though I'd also have to look at this other undefeated team, it's be a pretty bad idea to not look at a team that can win matches! Because I was curious I looked up this 971 team online and found that they have won with 254 more than 1678 has (5 times to 3)! Now it definitely seems like we are missing something here. Looks like 971 is the Jerry Rice in our story.

Personally, if it was between all these past teammates I'd go and check out each robot in person to see how well fastened together it is before making any real decisions. Don't want the robot to come apart!

I'll be trying to watch the Silicon Valley Regional when I can on thebluealliance but no promises!

Best Regards,
RM

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

1662 is sporting an enormous slice of ... luscious cheesecake? :confused:*

Anyway, 971's shot goes over top of the thing. Defense is hard to do.

-------
*or, did they bring that giant folding panel along just in case? Nah.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

What is up with the challenge in F1?

... oh nevermind, 2 scales were given to red alliance for blue interference and thus the capture along with it.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

No capture. Just one challenge converted to a scale. +10 on the originally reported Red score.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

oops, right you are!

Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

All around a great event. Amazing matches especially the finals. F1 was the best match I have seen this season. During the match the feeling in the arena was electric. Congratulations to 1678, 254, and 1662 for winning, and 971, 3303, and 368 for getting to the finals. Also great job to all the other teams that won awards. A huge thank you as well to the teams that helped 5940 out at the event - 1678, 5737, 5026, and many more, as well as all the fantastic volunteers. A shout out to our fantastic alliance partners 2489 and 192 too. Looking forward to seeing everyone at championships!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I believe 254 was originally (incorrectly) given a challenge instead of a scale by the referees. As far as I can tell, only one red robot was actually on the batter at the end of the match. Here's the video: https://youtu.be/cGe8wdbfl_E?t=25200

Something interesting I didn't notice (despite being right next to the field): 254 appears to have been intentionally preventing 3303 from leaving its courtyard after the 20-second warning. Could this be considered a violation of G11? Rule, and blue box:

Maybe? Maybe not? Any thoughts? Should this be in YMTC?

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

20 pts for Challenge/Scale (5 for the one red bot on the batter, 15 for 254 due to contact with Blue in last 20 "Free Scale")

G11 does not apply here both were heading toward SP IMO

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

What a weekend!

First, thank you to all the volunteers who put the event on. SVR has many long-term volunteers, it was nice to see so many familiar faces.

More than anything, 1678 loves SVR for the teams in attendance. Along with many seasoned veterans, we had the pleasure to work with a number of truly fantastic rookie teams at this event, including 5924 and 5940. I am expecting great things from these teams in the coming years.

Speaking of up-and-coming teams, I was once again very impressed with 649 at this event. The students and mentors have so much passion for the program, only good things are in store for this group!

We'd like to thank all of our alliance partners in both qualifications and eliminations. This year, more than most, the alliance needs to work as a unit in order to ensure a capture each match. We really appreciate the hard work and determination each of our alliance members showed in the qualification matches.

Special thanks to our good friends on 971, 368 and 3303 for putting up some epic finals matches at SVR. Epic does not do those matches justice.

Thank you to our partners 254 and 1662. We've learned so much from 254 and its been a privilege to play on the same side of the glass these last couple of years. 1662 was a steal at the end of the draft, and played fantastic, clean defense throughout the eliminations.

Lastly, another thanks to 971 and 254. These are the two best robots in the world right now, hands down. Thank you for inspiring us to continually iterate and improve.

A few clarifications here:

According to our alliance captains retelling of the referee's explanation, the original scoring gave 1662 a challenge and 1678 a scale. Both robots were on the batter. 254 was given neither challenge or scale points (and was clearly not on the batter at the end of the match).

After we challenged the decision, thinking 254 was contacted by 3303 in the last 20 seconds, the referees discussed. They determined that 1678 and 1662 were both interfered with by 3303 in the last 20 seconds and gave both robots scale points.

I still believe that 254 deserved the scale points, and I believe the video shows this to be the case.

I think both alliances handled the situation very well, as uncomfortable as it was. However, there was quite a bit of boo-ing from the audience after the scoring change. I think this has become one of the unfortunate cultures at SVR, and it isn't the first time that 254 has been boo-ed at this event.

-Mike

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

5.5.3 and T19 do not provide challenge as a remedy for incorrect referee decisions. The audience was given the impression, reinforced by the Game Announcer's statement, that the score had been changed based on a challenge.

Many of us can point to situations, like this one, in which a clarification request (allowed by T19) has had the same effect as a challenge. The perception that some teams are allowed to challenge referee decisions may contribute to the "unfortunate cultures at SVR", and at other venues as well.

I agree with Mike that the video clearly shows 3303 contacting multiple red alliance robots during the endgame. I think the scoring change was reasonable, and that many referees would have called the match that way initially.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I would like to echo everything that Mike said about the event and also add that I personally found the teams at this competition to be particularly gracious and professional when talking to them in the pits.

Mike has already said it but I want to emphasize how impressed we all are with teams 5924 and 5940. In the pits and on the field, both of you looked like seasoned veteran teams. Our scouts had you ranked 10th and 7th, respectively, based on your individual performances. That doesn't happen by accident, particularly at SVR. Congratulations to both of you for well deserved Rookie All Star awards at SAC and SVR and we look forward to seeing you both at champs.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Well, at least the correct alliance was given the win, even if the calls were way off.

From my view, 254 is the only robot which is actually contacted in the last 20 seconds of F-1 (F-2 at least 2 robots are hit). They should have been the only one given a free scale per G28, however that that scale also should have given the red alliance the Capture, as their scale would automatically be awarded to the open batter spot. With 1678 and 1662 both given challenges, the final score should have been 175-159 in favor of red.

I'm not sure why they thought 1662 got contacted as they were nowhere near 3303 in the last 20 seconds. It didn't look like 1678 was ever actually contacted, either, but that's hard to tell from video. It's a shame both matches had 3303 caught in the courtyard, I think the final scores don't really reflect just how close and intense the matches really were.

As an aside, congrats on keeping the streak alive Mike!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I know it's already been said by two of our mentors already, but it was fantastic to see what the SVR teams had to offer this year. That holds especially true for rookie teams 5924, and 5940. Those are two teams to keep an eye on!
A huge shout out to our alliance partners 254, and 1662, I'm still surprised 1662 was around for our pick, what a great team to have on your alliance.
It was an honor to play against high caliber teams in the finals, 971, 368, and 3303 all had fantastic robots, and I look forward to seeing all of them at champs.
I'd like to second what Mike said about 649. They are great team, with amazing students. Can't wait to see everyone next year!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

It was going to be bigger, but it was blocking our driver's vision too much already. I had this amazing plan for a passive 4 flap deploying system, would have been about 5 feet wide. Poor 4 layer cheesecake, how we hardly knew you.

1662 took it home with them to share their delicious cheesecake at champs(pesky bagging rules).

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Thanks everyone! It means so much coming from a team that is so highly regarded in the FRC community. It was an honor to meet your team and play with you guys in Q4. We look forward to seeing 1678 at champs as well!

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Unfortunately, I think this was exacerbated by a failure to explain the reason for the change in score. It is very important to give a full explanation for such a change, especially when it arises from a rules interpretation. Most of the audience is not familiar with the nuances of the rules and its appropriate to give them a good explanation. We were able to piece most of it together in the stands, but that may not have been true for others.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

My best experiences from SVR: Talking with other teams about how their programs can get and are getting better. Sharing resources is key to the success of FRC. I was particularly thrilled to hear about the change at 841 with greater support from their school and new sponsorships. This might even open an avenue for a new key FIRST sponsor. Please come and visit at Champs if you're there.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

Note that the discussion was not a done deal. More scenarios were played out with their pros and cons. And we had about 5 mins to put together our entire pick list--they really compressed the time between the last match and selections.:ahh:

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

SVR is always an exciting event, and this year was no different. Thanks to all the volunteers there who make the event possible.

Thanks to 852 for picking us, and 6036 for joining our alliance. It was really fun playing with both of you, and I'm very glad you were both able to repair your robots in time for the second match. 6036, I'll always remember your offer to help get 852 working and call in a backup robot in place of your own. Knowing this was your first event ever and possibly last event of the year, considering giving up the chance to play must have been extremely difficult. I hope you enjoyed the last match--I know I was really glad you were able to make it.

Talking about great rookie teams, I'd like to echo what has been said about 5924 and 5940--awesome robots, awesome teams, and good luck at champs!

Congratulations to the winning alliance, 1678, 254, and 1662, and the finalist alliance, 971, 368, and 3303. Finals were really exciting to watch with so many great robots on the field.

I'm glad you went with the list that you did--it meant that for once, I correctly predicted an entire alliance. :) (Although I did sort of cheat and make it on Saturday night so I had an idea of how seeding would turn out)

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I can think of another set of teams that experience such negativity and booing at another event, to the point where we have to speak to other mentors about their student's inappropriate use of language.
We always make sure we tell our students to handle wins/losses with professional humility and that its ok to be naturally happy or sad about outcomes.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

It's great to see that scores will be changed after a match if referees discuss and agree on a bad call. We have had multiple matches in eliminations this year where we have challenged calls, been told that we were right, and that the refs would "keep an eye on the situation" in the next matches.
It could be because in your situation, the change in score would have swayed the match the other way, where in ours it wasn't cut and dry.

Either way there is a lot of stress going in to making those calls, it's no easy job.

Re: Silicon Valley Regional (2016)
 

I completely agree, which is why I told the game announcer that he really should give more of an explanation. I think it's telling that the reaction to the explanation was a lot less negative.

And I apologize for any confusion caused by me mis-remembering the situation in F1 and posting as such.